THROWBACK: Serena Williams pulls off miraculous escape against Clijsters at 2003 Australian Open

Known for her fighting spirit, Serena Williams displayed her heart and grit early in her career when she faced Kim Clijsters in the semifinals of the 2003 Australian Open.

The American had just reached her first Australian Open semifinal, where the formidable Clijsters awaited. After each claiming a set, Williams fell into a 1-5 hole against her Belgian opponent in the decider.

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This could have been the end for any other WTA superstar, but Williams is made of tougher stuff. She displayed her resilience, battling for each point and saving two match points to break back and level the score at 5-5. With momentum on her side, the American won the last two games to escape with a 4-6 6-3 7-5 victory.

Williams would go on to face sister Venus in the final, prevailing to win her fifth overall Grand Slam and fourth in a row. This also marked the first "Serena Slam", a feat she would go on to complete a decade later.